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Marcellus was correct

The more time I spend reviewing BC Hydro, the more I am reminded of the famous line spoken by a minor character in Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

BC Hydro released its Second Quarter report for Fiscal Year 2016. Domestic consumption (residential, commercial and industrial) is down 2% compared to the same period of the year prior and the twelve months ended March 2016 may show the lowest level of consumption by homeowners and businesses in British Columbia since 1998.

NDP MLA Gary Holman says this information:

Reinforces need for the BC Utilities Commission to examine dubious business case for Site C.

Regardless of reduced demand, British Columbia continues construction at Site C and purchases more from Independent Power Producers. The power strategy of Christy Clark’s government is impossible for honest people to understand.

I'm not sure but I think part of the reason is the slowdown with pulp mills, which use a lot of electricity.

Also, the hydro rates, especially when you get onto tier 2 on the billing, is getting quite high, and will continue to get higher. When rates get higher, people and businesses will look at ways to cut electricity usage. LED bulbs etc.

ha…..when submitting my last comment I had to prove to the machine I was not a robot….how ironic it asked me to pick out pictures of waterfalls…once they are all diverted into IPP penstocks that's all we'll have…pictures

As has been noted before, after what was surely an exhaustive search for the most qualified candidate in all of North America to run a multi-billion dollar public utility, by pure coincidence a long-time public servant with credentials as Gordon Campbell’s faithful right hand woman turned out to be the most qualified to be CEO of BC Hydro. The fact that her husband is described by Christy Clark as “one of my oldest friends”, was the co-chair and manager of her leadership campaign and subsequently her chief of staff, was also complete coincidence and had nothing whatever to do with the appointment. The critical determinant was her extensive demonstrated experience in running a public utility.

In fact, she is so qualified that there is no longer any need to submit her multi-billion dollar projects to the Public Utilities Commission, as would be the case had Christy not had the foresight to install the right individual. We sure got lucky. Just ask the folks in the legislative press gallery. They know her well, and will undoubtedly vouch for her.

In fact, the largest reduction in electricity use in the last few years is in the residential sector. It dropped 5.1% from FY 2014 to FY 2015. In the first six months of the current fiscal year, residential consumption is down a further 1.2%, for the same six month period, year over year.

Consumption by large industrial users was less in 2015 than in any year from 2004 to 2009.Despite expansion of commercial and light industrial,

as the cost of everything rises and wages don't rise as much or as fast, people start to economize. Lights get turned off, electrical heating gets turned down.

Now why Christy wants to go ahead with building Site C, that is easy, her friends and supporters want the contracts. If you're in charge you can build what you like, hire who you like and they can charge what they like. Then when you run for re-election, they contribute to your election campaing. its really easy as to why Christy wants Site C. it also will “hold” a lot of water which can be exported, used for fracking, but watch out if there is ever a big earthquake. the whole thing will come down and it will be case closed for a lot of land and people.

Power continues to be purchased from IPs because they have signed contracts during el gordo's time. Just another way to “reward” your “friends” so every body but the taxpayers get something.

the people of this province voted for el gordo and Christy. You get what you deserve.

This information is a treasure trove of the old adage…”follow the money”, the evidence trail necessary for a future..”corruption” enquiry. Overpaying IPP's for the power, that obviously is being grossly overcharged for. One wonders where this money trail will lead. These contracts should be investigated and rescinded. “Legalized theft” is not what a serving government should be involved with, “in my humble opinion.”

Wasting money on destructive energy projects makes zero sense when there are better alternatives. British Columbia is spending billions on Site C. It could suspend the project today and have less harmful and cheaper sources of clean power operational by the time more electricity is needed.

As is typical of resource management, the regulating ministry sees its prime purpose is to enhance growth and profitability of companies extracting resources. the public share of produced values is no longer material. This cozy relationship costs taxpayers billions of dollars, money that could be spent on renewable energy, transit, daycare, education or many […]

Canada’s Conservatives are committed to the Republican Party value of opposing voter fraud, if someone else is doing it. Like their American mentors, HarperCons protest electoral manipulations even more strongly when no one is doing it. Bill C-76 amends the Canada Elections Act to establish spending limits for third parties and political parties before of a […]

Freelance reporter Bob Mackin wrote that BC’s Legislature was a scandal waiting to happen and he quoted journalism professor and former Legislative reporter Sean Holman about the significant potential for abuse. Mackin blames excessive secrecy and lack of transparency...

BC Hydro's quarterly report for the period ended September 30, 2018 shows the utility is very good at some things. Specifically, borrowing and spending money. In the thirteen years from 2005, assets employed to service BC consumers have almost tripled in value. Trouble is, actual sales to residential, commercial and industrial consumers are less in 2018 […]

The case is clear. British Columbia's Government decided to reduce the public share of natural gas revenues to almost nothing. This is despite substantial growth in the quantities of natural gas being extracted.

Perhaps an even more vile set of falsehoods is BC Hydro's continuing claims that demand for electricity by its BC consumers has been growing steadily. That has led to excessive capital spending that measures in the billions.

Check out the fine work on electoral reform by Merv Adey 2018 fellowship recipient Andrew Seal. It’s a fabulous five part series published by The Tyee. We’d like to raise additional funds to initiate the next fellowship. You can be sure it will support a comprehensive examination of a subject important to all British Columbians.